The Miracle Man of Christmas
He’s the miracle man, appearing each year spreading magic through gift-giving, saintly protection of children, and festooned in a red fur-lined cape, delivering gifts in December. He is the real, thing – Sinterklass, honoring the 4th century bishop from Myra, now part of Turkey.
From the 11th century to today, he is celebrated in Dutch tradition as the bearer of gifts for children on the eve of the celebration of St. Nicholas’ official Catholic Saints Day on December 6. Missed it again this year.
In 1822, an Episcopal minister, Clement Clarke Moore, wrote a long poem for his three daughters called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas.” Initially the poem was not meant for public consumption, but once published it became the iconic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” It introduced the concept of the “right jolly old elf” with a red suit lined with white fur, knee-high black boots rolled down at the top, and the magical ability to descend chimneys and deliver presents on a sleigh led by eight flying reindeer. Somehow, the evolution of many traditions that we still celebrate today advanced from hints of ancient traditions, predating the Christian era.
Take the role of the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) into account. The Fly Agaric is the most iconic of all mushrooms. Its bright red cap dotted with white cottony spots is depicted in children’s books such as Alice in Wonderland, children’s toys, and yard ornaments. A book English by naturalist Aubyn Trevor-Battye is Ice-Bound on Kolguev (1895) connects this mushroom to the image of today’s Santa Klaus.
Shamans of an Arctic Russian nomadic group, the Nenets, wore red-dyed reindeer coats, with white fur trim along the bottom, neck, and sleeve edges. High black reindeer-skin boots, rolled down at the top, were their footwear. Their red caps were also trimmed with white fur. The colors honor their sacred mushroom, the Fly Agaric.
The Nenets nomadic dwellings, a cross between a teepee and a yurt, called a “choom” had an open smoke hole at the top. During summer months, Nenets shamans collected the red and white Fly Agaric mushrooms. They dried them, then during the deep snow of winter, shared them with the community by entering the choom through the “chimney” hole at the top. They also shared the mushrooms with their reindeer herds that relished them and would prance and jump under their influence.